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American Morning

Interview of Oreta and Paul Burnham, Mary Jones

Aired January 22, 2002 - 09:04   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Up front this morning, U.S. troops in the Philippines and hope for one American family that the troops there will make a difference for Martin and Gracia Burnham. The two American aid workers were kidnapped eight months ago by the Muslim terror group, Abu Sayyaf, which has been linked to al Qaeda.

We talked with Martin Burnham's parents in December, and this morning they are joining us again, and we appreciate that very much. They join us from Rose Hill, Kansas.

Welcome back.

Also with us from Liberty Township, Ohio, is Gracia's sister, Mary Jones, who is traveling to the Philippines this week and hopes to talk with government leaders about getting the Burnhams released.

Good morning to you all.

Thank you for joining us this morning. Mr. and Mrs. Burnham, the last time we spoke, the latest video you had of your son and daughter- in-law was actually taken by Filipino journalist at the end of the year. Have you seen any pictures since these were taken?

ORETA BURNHAM, MOTHER OF HOSTAGE MARTIN BURNHAM: No, we haven't seen any pictures since that.

ZAHN: And what is the latest information you have on your son and your daughter in law?

O. BURNHAM: The latest information we have is that at their last sighting at the end of December, they were still able to keep up with the group, and they were pretty much in the same condition that they were in the video.

ZAHN: And what -- not having met your son before, and daughter- in-law, what condition is that?

O. BURNHAM: They are quite thin, and look like they've lost considerable weight. In appearance, like they have been sick at times.

ZAHN: Mr. Burnham, how concerned are you at this point?

PAUL BURNHAM, FATHER OF HOSTAGE MARTIN BURNHAM: We're very concerned because it's been two months since we've gotten any recent photos of them, and so we know that they're probably in worse shape than they were, and we're just very concerned that they need to get out as soon as possible.

ZAHN: And Mary, at a time when you're getting this opportunity to make a trip to the Philippines, we know that U.S. forces are on the ground not far from the island where your sister is being held with her husband. Do you think, ultimately, the U.S. forces will help secure their release?

MARY JONES, SISTER OF HOSTAGE GRACIA BURNHAM: I think that they'll be helpful in that regard, at least. I'm hoping that the U.S. troops presence there and the assistance they provide will make a difference.

ZAHN: And what difference do you think your trip to the Philippines will make?

JONES: I'm just hoping to find out for our family exactly what is going on, and then to determine whether that is enough, or we need to try to heat things up more, and move things ahead. From what we've been told, we feel pretty comfortable with the involvement of the United States government, but I just want to see for myself what's going on.

ZAHN: Now, specifically, you've asked to speak with the president of the Philippines, right? Will that happen?

JONES: I've spoken with the embassy, and I think our State Department is following up on that arrangement, but I haven't heard definite confirmation, no.

ZAHN: And what message will you taking with you, depending on who it is you'll ultimately be sitting down with?

JONES: Well, I just want to tell them that we do appreciate the efforts they have made. We know that they've lost soldiers, that Filipino lives have been sacrificed to attempt to retrieve my sister and her husband, but we want them to move ahead with their plans, and not relax right now. This is a critical time. They're very ill. We need to get them out very soon.

ZAHN: Mr. and Mrs. Burnham, I know in the last communication from your son and daughter-in-law, they expressed that they couldn't take what they were going through much longer.

Describe to us what has gotten them to this point. Weaker people might not even have survived up to this point. Eight months of captivity is a long time.

P. BURNHAM: They've been waiting for their children. They want to get home and be with their family again, and they are just holding out to see their family again.

ZAHN: Mrs. Burnham how resilient is your son and your daughter- in-law? O. BURNHAM: Well, I think they are very strong, and their determination to stay in there and to be with their family again and be reunited again.

ZAHN: I know Mary just described her hopes on how the trip might help secure the release of your son and daughter-in-law, and she supports the idea now of U.S. troops being on the ground in the Philippines.

In the end, how has the cooperation been between your family and the U.S. government?

P. BURNHAM: It's been pretty good here, recently. Early on, we didn't feel like they were working together very well, but we feel like that -- been made aware of, and they're doing all they can to work together with the Philippine government to secure their release.

ZAHN: In the early months of son's captivity, why do you think the U.S. government took the posture it did? Was it just -- so complicated to figure out who was holding them, or was it just a lack of effort on the U.S. government's part?

P. BURNHAM: We're not sure why they took so long, but they really need to get out as soon as possible, and we're glad that the government is working at faster pace now to try to secure their release.

ZAHN: Well, we wish our best to your family. I can't imagine what the struggle has been like for your home (ph) as you wait for any sort of communication from your son and daughter-in-law, and Mary, as you wait for any sort of communication from your sister. Best of luck to you on your trip to the Philippines, and we'd love to talk to you when you get back to better understand the impact of that trip.

JONES: Thank you.

ZAHN: Thank you all for joining us this morning. We appreciate your time.

P. BURNHAM: Thank you.

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